Iowa State University
INDEX
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
E-Mail & Phones |

NEWS RELEASE
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Iowa State University
www.las.iastate.edu

11-25-08

Contacts:
Kim Conger, Political Science, (515) 294-3403 (conger@iastate.edu)
Steve Jones, Liberal Arts & Sciences Communications, (515) 294-0461 (jones@iastate.edu)

Jackie Norris, Michelle Obama’s new
chief of staff, is Iowa State political science alumna

AMES, Iowa – Jackie Norris, who last week was named chief of staff for incoming first lady Michelle Obama, earned her master’s degree in political science from Iowa State University in August 2008.

Norris wrote her thesis project on the mobilization of young voters. “She definitely used her academic experience in the recent election,” said Kim Conger, assistant professor of political science at Iowa State and Norris’ major professor. “She translated that into practical action during the campaign.”

The Iowa state director for Barack Obama’s general election campaign this year, Norris also was a senior adviser for Obama during the Iowa caucuses. Obama easily won in Iowa on Nov. 4 with 54 percent of the votes.

Norris attended Iowa State as the 2005 Iowa recipient of the James Madison Fellowship. The scholarship goes to educators who teach about the United States Constitution. Norris was a high school American government and history teacher in Iowa.

“She’s about the most lovely person I know,” said Conger. “She’s so easy to work with, and she was always engaged in class.”

Conger said Norris’ experience and knowledge of the American political system brought a unique perspective to her Iowa State classes. “Michelle Obama is lucky to have her,” Conger added.

As Michelle Obama’s chief of staff, Norris will assist the first lady in planning her heavy travel and appearance schedule.

Norris served as political director on Vice President Al Gore’s 1999-2000 Iowa caucus campaign and as finance director of Tom Vilsack's 1998 campaign for Governor of Iowa. Norris worked in Washington, D.C., for seven years on Capitol Hill, in the White House as a scheduler for Vice President Gore, and at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

-30-